Bigfoot Bulletin - No 08 - 1969

Magazine Overview

Title: BIGFOOT BULLETIN
Issue: No. 8
Date: August 31, 1969
Publisher: George F. Haas
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the BIGFOOT BULLETIN, dated August 31, 1969, contains several reports and announcements related to Bigfoot and Sasquatch investigations across North America.

Notes and Announcements

Rene Dahinden, a Bigfoot hunter from British Columbia, Canada, is in the Willow Creek-Bluff Creek area of northern California for two to three weeks and can be contacted through Al Hodgson at the Willow Creek Variety Store. The Anderson Valley Bigfoot Research Center has a new address: Ben E. Foster Jr., Rt. 1, Box 4532, Fig Tree Lane, Redding, Calif. 96001. Their phone number remains 916-365-3135. Other members include Eldon Brackett, Dewayne Erickson, John Kitchen, Damien Franco, and Shorty Sharp. The center is sponsored by Claude Gasser, owner of a paint store in Anderson and the "Bigfoot Claim" mining property in Trinity County.

Bigfoot Visits Big Hill Lookout

David Pezonella, a fire lookout on Big Hill, six miles east of Hoopa in the Hoopa Indian Reservation, California, reported finding a clear, sharp footprint sixteen inches long on the morning of August 9, 1969. The print was located near the station house. Pezonella believes that noise from a party held the previous evening might have attracted Bigfoot's curiosity. On August 19, 1969, John H. Dana and George F. Haas visited the site. Although the original track was obliterated, a diligent search with Pezonella's help revealed three other possible tracks in hard ground, about 40 to 50 feet from the station house, in a southeasterly direction. These tracks were also 16 inches long.

Bigfoot Romping with Bear!

Claude V. Neuffer of Portland, Oregon, wrote on July 15, 1969, about an encounter six years prior on Wildcat Mt., 35 miles east of his location. He found human-type tracks, about his own size, that sank about three inches into hard-packed snow, while his own tracks only sank 1.5 inches. Intriguingly, a set of bear tracks was found all around these human-type tracks. Neuffer speculated whether they were traveling together or if the tracks were made at different times on the same night. He described both sets of tracks as being all over the road, moving back and forth, and occasionally wandering. He stated that the difference between these tracks and plain bear tracks was obvious, suggesting a comparison that showed they were not the same.

In Spotlight At Close Range: Deputy Gives Detailed Description of Sasquatch

This section reprints a report from John Green's THE ADVANCE, Agassiz, B.C., Canada, dated August 7, 1969. It details an interview with Deputy Sheriff Verlin Herrington of Gray's Harbour County, Washington, regarding an incident on July 26, 1969. Herrington, 30 years old and living at Copalis Beach, Washington, was on duty at 2:35 a.m. while en route to his residence via Deekay Road and Grass Creek Road. He reported rounding a corner and seeing what he initially thought was a large bear in the middle of the road. He stopped his patrol car, and as he approached, he realized it was not a bear. He described the creature as having no snout, a face with reflective eyes, and feet instead of paws. It stood upright, like a person, and walked to the edge of the road before turning to look at him. Herrington adjusted his spotlight, and the creature's hand was visible, spread out with fingers. He then exited his car with a revolver, but as he cocked the hammer, the animal went into the brush. He later returned to the scene and found where the animal had entered and exited the brush. He found one indention in the ground, which he photographed, but it was not suitable for a plaster cast. He estimated the animal to be seven to seven and a half feet tall, weighing approximately 300 to 325 pounds. He observed it for about a minute and a half to two minutes while it was standing erect. He noted that its feet had hair down to the soles, but the outline of toes was visible. The creature descended a steep bank into the brush, still in an upright position, until it went out of the spotlight. Herrington stated the creature's face had no snout and possibly no hair, with a dark, leathery look. The hair on its head was estimated to be 3 to 4 inches long, longer than on its body. It had no discernible neck. He confirmed it had breasts, similar to a human's, with skin around the nipples. The hair color was brownish-black. He could not estimate the length of its arms but noted one was in a bent position as if startled. He described its legs as long and muscular, and it took small steps, about three steps from the center of the road to the edge. The walk was similar to a human's. He did not see its teeth and could not recall if its waist tapered. He described it as heavily built.

New Light on Footprints in Alaska

This section discusses tracks found at Whitewater Bay, Admiralty Island, Alaska, initially reported in BIGFOOT BULLETIN No. 6 and confirmed by the crew of the yacht "Nathanial Bowditch." A letter from Richard L. Tierney, writing from Juneau, Alaska, on August 12, 1969, offers a new perspective. Tierney flew to Whitewater Bay with Foster Wilkins, a bear hunting guide, and Carl Lane, another experienced bear guide. They examined the tracks, which had been described by Mr. David Wharton of the "Nathanial Bowditch" as "unidentified animal tracks" measuring 20" long by 13" wide and 3" deep. Mrs. Jane Wallen of the Alaska State Museum suggested investigation and documentation. Tierney, Wilkins, and Lane photographed the prints. Carl Lane, a bear guide for twenty years, identified the tracks as an "old bear trail." He explained that brown bears, following the same paths for years, deepen and enlarge these trails, sometimes wearing into the bedrock. Lane stated that such trails are less common now due to a decline in the bear population. Tierney measured the prints, obtaining 21" for average length, 4" for depth, 24" for average pace, and 48" for stride. He noted the stride seemed longer because the prints were more widely spaced than human footprints. Eleven prints were counted, similar to Wharton's count. Near the west end of the trail, they found a spruce from which the "Nathanial Bowditch" party had collected a tuft of hair. Carl identified strands of hair found on the same spruce as brown bear hair. Both Foster Wilkins and Carl Lane stated they had never seen such a bear trail before. Tierney expresses puzzlement as to why Sasquatch sightings or footprints have not been reported in Southeast Alaska, suggesting the Sasquatch might not occur there. Carl Lane confirmed he had never heard of a Sasquatch being reported in Southeast Alaska.

Hair and Footprint Find Corroborated

This article follows up on a previous report about hairs and over 400 footprints found by John H. Dana and George F. Haas on the West Low Gap trail in Trinity County, California, on July 14, 1969. John Kitchen, a member of the ANDERSON VALLEY BIGFOOT RESEARCH CENTER, found and followed the same footprints about a week later. He also collected a dozen hairs from a madrone tree where a creature had stripped leaves. On August 10, 1969, Ben E. Foster Jr., Eldon Brackett, Damien Franco, and George F. Haas visited the trail again. The old prints were still intact, and several dozen new footprints were found between West Low Gap and the original site. Some of these prints were distinct, showing definite toe marks, and led across the trail and up the hillside. The party agreed they were fresh Bigfoot tracks, likely less than a day old. They also concurred that Dana and Haas's estimate of 400 tracks along a quarter mile of trail was conservative. The article suggests that Bigfoot hunters should search for footprints in forest mulch, as heavy creatures can leave recognizable prints in pine needles and forest humus.

Bill Eddington has returned from a month-long stay in the Bluff Creek area, reporting no evidence of Bigfoot. He and his companion could not find an area remote enough from logging operations and tourists for their plans and intend to search in another area.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The BIGFOOT BULLETIN consistently reports on alleged sightings, footprint discoveries, and research efforts related to Bigfoot and Sasquatch. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and documentation of these phenomena, while also critically evaluating evidence, as seen in the re-evaluation of the Alaskan tracks. The publication encourages correspondence and collaboration among researchers. Themes include detailed eyewitness accounts, physical evidence analysis (footprints, hair), and geographical distribution of reports. The bulletin aims to provide a platform for sharing information within the Bigfoot research community.